Those Cava boys are at it again.
HZDG was proud to attend Monday night’s exclusive launch party for Sugo Cicchetti (chi-KET-tee). Created by the owners of Cava restaurants (Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis) and the owners of Mama Lucia restaurants (Jimmy Fragoyannis, Bruno Fabi), Sugo is a restaurant styled after the ever-popular cicchetti bars throughout Italy.
HZDG worked with the Sugo owners on branding their new concept including providing assistance with strategic logo development, menu design and collateral branding materials, such as the employee t-shirts and pizza boxes.
Work hard, play hard.
To know just a little about these men speaks volumes in terms of what to expect for Sugo Cicchetti. These are men with old-school values and a hardcore work ethic. These guys don’t mess around and they know what it takes to be successful. They are young, intelligent, honest, innovative, and forever looking for the next big idea to grow their business and share their passion.
Smaller plates = more variety
In Italy, cicchetti bars traditionally serve small snacks and side dishes, which in essence, combines aspects of Greek dining with traditional Italian cuisine. And who better to take on this concept than the top Greek and Italian forces in the area? To combine Greek and Italian cuisine means you will have Italian food served in a tapas-like style (or in small plates). Smaller plates promote sharing and variety—meaning more conversation and less over-indulgence; you are able to have an engaging experience with those around you.
It is no small wonder why Italian culture has adopted this style of dining—having strong family bonds and a deep appreciation for good food. Just look at the Old Italian phrase on the back of the Sugo T-shirts, “Vivere per mangiare,” meaning, “Live to eat.”
They simply know good food and how to make it.
We already know from the success of their existing restaurants—they know how to run a business. It is obvious they take great pride in their cooking and in their service, earning them great respect and recognition in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Every food, every flavor, is chosen with the utmost scrutiny, having a majority of their products imported directly. Both brands are known for regularly changing up their menus and trying new recipes—all of which turn out to be unbelievable!
It is regular for their restaurants to bend over backwards for customers, including adding tables to make for larger parties or placing tables in unused locations to accommodate wait times. At Cava, you always feel like you’re being taken care of. It must be that undeniable Greek charm!
It’s all in the family
It is not uncommon to see family around their restaurants, enjoying a meal or conversing with customers. As with traditional Greek and Italian culture, family and friends are very important and are often involved in all aspects of life, including business. In fact, most everyone who works for the Cava brand is somehow related or is a friend of a friend. Cava proves that a brand can be just as strong as family—one that will only grow stronger with the addition of Sugo Cicchetti.
It is without hesitation that HZDG took on this project. After Monday night’s chic launch party with samples of the food, we can 100 percent say that we will indeed be back for more!
Sugo Cicchetti is now open in Park Potomac.
12505 Park Potomac Ave | Potomac MD | 240.386.8080 | EATSUGO.com (future website)
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